Flying Forward: Building a Future for Pigeons
On this episode of Saaving The Streets, hosts Alex and Adele welcome Susan Joyce, the founder of Little Greek and Pigeon in Wales. Sue shares her inspiring journey from running a pigeon sanctuary to building a support network for pigeon rescuers across the UK. She opens up about the challenges of transitioning sanctuary birds to new homes, her campaigns to end pigeon racing, and the exciting launch of the world’s first pigeon advocacy conference. Along the way, Sue reflects on her vegan journey, her work in veterinary practice, and what first opened her eyes to the overwhelming need for avian rescue. It’s a thoughtful and passionate conversation about pigeons, purpose, and creating lasting change for animals of all species.
Listen to Episode #10 Now:
BIO:
Susan Joyce has been vegetarian since aged 8 and a vegan for the last 15 years. Her love for birds was inspired by her hundreds of hours of bird watching with her son who was bird mad from a young age.
Sue has founded:
- Little Green Pigeon Community Interest Company,
- The National Pigeon Advocacy Association
- and The Animal Rights Choir
Sue has been a lifelong animal rights activist, dedicating her entire life to the protection and advocacy of animals. During her career in veterinary care, she became acutely aware of the widespread abuse and neglect suffered by pigeons. This led her to run a bird sanctuary for 15 years, which organically evolved into a dedicated pigeon sanctuary. Initially funded from her own wages, the sanctuary later became supported by 'Little Green Pigeon' a Community Interest Company established in 2020.
In 2024, the birds in Sue’s care were safely rehomed to other sanctuaries, with Little Green Pigeon continuing to fund their care. This transition allowed Sue to focus fully on public advocacy. She now travels across the UK, speaking at events and festivals, delivering her powerful talk, “Why We Need to Love Pigeons” and gaining support for her movement to ban Pigeon Racing in the UK.
In December 2024, Sue founded Harper’s Fund, with the ambitious goal of supporting the care of thousands of pigeons within the next decade. That same year, she also launched the National Pigeon Advocacy Association and began planning the world’s first veterinary-led international advocacy conference for pigeons, set to take place in Staffordshire in September 2025. The conference will aim to educate and empower more people to care for these often-overlooked birds.
Sue is also a founding member of the Vegan Business Mastermind, alongside Keith Lesser, and co-hosts The Bloody Vegans Podcast with Jim Moore. In June 2025, together with Vegan Queen V, she co-founded the International Animal Rights Choir (ARC) — an online and in-person choir that sings songs of joy and activism, helping people find their voice for the animals.